Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-07-15
A GOOD DOG STORY
From the French 81 sacher Masoch.

4 From the French 81 Sacher Masoch. ~ y.
The battle had lasted all day, and
night had set5in. The sound OF fire.
arms might still be heard in the dis
tance. The wood was held by bat
alton Of French marines. who had
received orders to cover the retreat.
The whole village was on fire from one
end to che other. The heavy tread OF
the Prussian columns as they fled
through the main street resounded
with dull monotony on the Icy snow.
The mounted officers we're muffled in
long overeoats, and when the steeds
snortea the breath OF the horses
nostrils seemed toD freeze in the air.
The quiet, gloomy, star-lit sky, to-
wards which q fog.cloud of smoke
scared upwards in the distance, APP
peared to rest On board basement
Of riven fame.
Outside the village extended the
large open courtyard OF farm which
alth ough it stood alone, had also be-
came prey to the Acknowledgements.
The conhagration had gained the roof,
cock-loft and cattle houses, and
formed steady advancing sheet Of
fire. A thousand lambert tongues Of
flame shot beyond the charred walls
toward the orchard fruit trees and
the tall poplars along the road. A
corpse was stretched full length in front
OF the courtyard door; but, hey ond
the Kissing and cracking ofthe flames,
everything around was silent and
deserted.
Suddenly the mad howl Of d power.
full watchdog broke the still
ness OF the gloom. In vain did tho
poor beast wrench on the chain that
throttled him and howl at his ap-
preaching fate. The Prussian soldiery,
who had left house and home, wife
and children, to fight their hereditary
foe, were deaf even to the cries of mer-
cy which fell from the lips OF a human
being. How then could such men be
expected to stop their victorious ca
reer TO unbind the leash CT so insig-
nlticant an object as a. wretched dog?
The bait alton had already marched
by and only q few straggIers were left
behind. One OF them stopped, should
cred his rif1estrap and peered into the
yard. He saw the dog and pitied the
poor brute. The man was aPole and
had some heart. He remembered the
dear old mastiff which had left home
to follow him in the present campaign
and had died in the ditch by the road
side. lie cautiously entered the blaz-
ing courtyard and approached the
kennel. The watch dog came out and
took confidence at the blue eyes and
open countenance of the deliverer.
The Pole unstrapped the leather col
lar and the poor animal was free!
1t was O. large white dog, with woolly
coat, long tail and pointed ears. It
started to follow the stranger; but, on
reaching the dead man at the
farm-yard door, it drew near slow
ly, tinldly scented the lifeless
body, and began to whine. The faith
iul creature had recognized it's master
and began licking his, brown and CAL
lous hand, Vainly' the soldier beck
oned, called and whistled; he hal to
drag the animal away from the corpse,
after passing round it's neck a. rope
which had served the purpose OF a
glrd!e to the dogs dead master.
II.
The French had retired and the
Prussian battalion pitched it's camp
on the outskirts OF the wood. Fires
were kindled, and he who had wine or
brandy in his gourd gave some to the
rest. The comrades drew near to
Flavian Valnizki, as the landwebrman
was called; they looked at the dog
and made fun OF the soft-hearted
'Polak.' He only trowned and held
his peace. The dog, who seemed toun.
derstand that the jeering mood Of the
soldiers might influence his new mas
ter to get rid OF him, caressed his
hand with his nose, or looked up at
him and waggsd It's tail. Still, tor
many days the animal refused all
kinds Of nourishment. Once only,
while the column was on march, and
several Of the men left the ranks to
drink at Il stream, the dog went to
the bank and Tapped up the water
with feverish avidity.
One day fearful battle was fought.
When the struggle was over and the
camp-kettles, the dog crouched at
his friends Iceland looked up at him.
The Pole offered the now WE'LL
nigh famished animal the rind OF a
piece OF cheese which had long been
slowed away in the depths Of his peck
ct. The dog for long time scented
the food, ALL to make sure that it be-
longed to his master and nobody else.
The poor creature this time accept
ed the protfered pittance; it began to
eat slowly, and with a sort
OF dignity, like one who does the
thing merely to oblige another. From
that day the Pole got the dogs. food
from the country stores which became
across in the long marches over
French soil. @..% .s'$1 W. .s@3< Nj ,.s%@.
One evening, the Sergeant Of his
squad said to the landwehrmau:
"What are you going to do with
th,.t beastg' H..
.rTake it home with me, replied the
Pole, II need watchdog and cannot
hope to meet with a better one"
III. 5jt4 ~
At last the armistice was concluded
and peace proclaimed. Thslandwehr.
men looked at each other with joyful
eyes and clasped their hands in silent
token Of better days. At the first
town they reached the whole battal.
lion was bundled into a train which
steamed off in the direction OF the
Fatherland. They had no sooner
passed the frontier, than the soldiers